as in oblique
running in a slanting direction
the leaning tower of Pisa is a popular tourist attraction in Italy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in direction
a prevailing or general movement or inclination
the news media are often accused of having liberal leanings
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in tendency
a habitual attraction to some activity or thing
despite what his athletic leanings might suggest, he was actually a very lazy kid
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in tilting
to set or cause to be at an angle
just lean the ladder against the tree and climb up it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tending
to show a liking or proneness (for something)
the family's diet leans toward greasy food
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in relying
to place reliance or trust
you can always lean on me if you need help
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of leaning
Ted Johnson, Deadline, 26 Jan. 2026
Indeed, China’s Latin America policy has not been discriminatory with regard to the political leanings of nations, even if Venezuela were to change course.
—Kerry E. Ratigan, The Conversation, 15 Jan. 2026
Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 6 Jan. 2026
Astoria isn’t actually the most left-leaning neighborhood in New York.
—Naaman Zhou, New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for leaning
Noun
Republicans for years have claimed that social media giants have suppressed conservative views, suspicious of the Democratic leanings of some of the Silicon Valley tech titans and the workforce.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 26 Jan. 2026
Indeed, China’s Latin America policy has not been discriminatory with regard to the political leanings of nations, even if Venezuela were to change course.
—Kerry E. Ratigan, The Conversation, 15 Jan. 2026
Verb
Council insiders suggested Camilo’s political background could unnerve some of the chamber’s left-leaning members, especially as the body prepares to work with Mamdani, a democratic socialist.
—Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 6 Jan. 2026
Astoria isn’t actually the most left-leaning neighborhood in New York.
—Naaman Zhou, New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for leaning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leaning
Adjective
-
Darnold, who was blown out in his playoff debut last year with the Vikings — by the Rams, no less — played through an oblique injury and completed 25 of 36 passes for 346 yards with no turnovers.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Fighting an oblique injury that limited him to only 17 pass attempts last week, the Seahawks will lean on Walker III in attempt to keep Stafford, Nacua and Davante Adams off the field.—
Bill Reinhard,
New York Daily News,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
For once, things appear to be moving in the right direction in the injury department.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Jan. 2026
-
The poll shows that 47% of Marylanders believe the state is headed in the right direction, but 44% say the state is headed in the wrong direction.—
Adam Thompson,
CBS News,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In these cases, crypto prices have demonstrated a historical tendency to benefit.—
Matthew Kayser,
Freep.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The team has also shown a tendency to sign former top-100 draft picks heading into a second contract.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Inside the administration, the balance of power appears to be tilting away from the noninterventionists and toward the hawks — at least, for now.—
Matt K. Lewis,
Mercury News,
13 Jan. 2026
-
The court’s four liberal justices at the time joined him over the other conservative justices’ dissents; Trump has since appointed Justice Amy Coney Barrett to replace former Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, tilting the court further in conservatives’ favor.—
Zach Schonfeld,
The Hill,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Instead of impulsive purchases and behaviors, people in the midst of a midlife crisis are really just struggling with kitchen table issues, including tending to their physical and mental health and supporting extended family.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Logging off healed the deep wound of constantly watching other people’s lives instead of tending to my own.—
Lee Tilghman,
SELF,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
There are many potential downsides to relying too much on AI personas; see my cautions at the link here.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Mensah grew up in extreme poverty, living with his mother Naomi and three siblings in low-income housing and relying on food stamps and church food banks.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Their test setup involved a ramp containing sand to simulate sloping dunes on Mars.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Redesignating it and banning all fishing at the reef and within 1,000 feet of the low-tide line on an eight-mile stretch of beach, Gibbs said, would reduce confusion about what people can and cannot take.—
Kenny Choi,
CBS News,
30 Jan. 2026
-
This victory demonstrated a new tide in the game music scene.—
Billboard Japan,
Billboard,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Leaning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leaning. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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